FACTBOX-Canada rushing to expand oil-by-rail shipments

August 14, 2013|Reuters

(Adds TORQ project) CALGARY/HOUSTON, Aug 14(Reuters) - Canadian oil producers are jumping into the crude-by-railmovement, on the heels of U.S. producers, as output ramps up, even though pipeline capacity isinsufficient to move it to North American markets. Most shipments involve Canadian bitumen diluted with condensate so it will flow in apipeline or in a general purpose tank railcar. But, increasingly, Canadian producers and U.S.refiners are seeking specially heated and insulated tank cars that use injected steam to heatand liquefy the viscous bitumen, cutting out the cost and space taken up by diluents. Here is a rundown of Canadian rail projects, as well as U.S. projects aimed at bringing inmore Canadian crude by rail: